Advice on Buildiing a Small Rig off ADA MP-1

[blf]

Hi All,

Just recently began thinking about either:

1- a 20/20 or 50/50 class Mesa or Marshall stereo power amp & stereo cab, a 1936 Marshall or a couple of 1x12's to use with one of my newly modded Voodoo Deluxe MP-1 OR

2- Get a Marshal TSL JCM 2000 (or equiv.) head, similar cab(s) and just run the ADA MP-1 in mono thru head fx loop?

3- Or a decent 2x12 combo (Rivera 55w or Marshall 2266 combo)

I want to keep it simple and relitivley portable - loud enough to play in smaller/mid sized venues/rehersals and for recording.

Am I losing that much tone by going mono with a head as opposed to true stereo with the ADA & stereo powert amp. I'll be playing my carvin mainley with EMG 81 and a couple of EMG- S singles

Thanks in advance - Im coming out of the direct Palmer cave I've been in because of having to play quietly with a newborn

[blf]

bump?

[barbarelaxe]

I played ADA MP1 for years. It was hooked up with a alesis quadreverb GT for effects and going into the effect loop of a 100v Marshall valvstate head and a marshall 2x12 cabinet.
the guitar went into the ADA input, the alesis was hooked to the ADA effect loop, and the ADA output went into the return effect loop of the amp.

[corey j grieve]

Power amp is the way to go mate,its the best because thats what they are designed for.
Im an ADA nut and have used them as my primary gain source for years and due to travel limitations in a band i've plugged mine successfully(and unsuccessfully) into many amps by many methods,but nothing sounded as good as an all tube power amp connected to it. Using the return line of the loop in a head did work well for me(Marshall mode 4),but yeah,still lacked. Buy a good all tube power amp,you won't regret it and i don't run mine stereo by the way due to again travel limitations but it still sounds the best in mono. I personally did'nt enjoy Marshall PA's as much as i did the Peavey classic 50/50,VHT and my current Duncan KTG.The KTG is amazing, if anyone can find one buy it,a rare tone monster. Check out these vids for some idea of available tone,Goodluck.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=W0KT8qkJFF8

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5ar3irxFo

[Lefty Robb]

Power amp all the way. Putting this into a head will just get colored (in a bad way) by the head, and you don't want that. The Mesa 50/50 is one of the most transparent power amps I have ever played on and would be a great choice. the 20/20 is also really good, but I think its a bit pricey for what they are. Peavey, VHT and the likes are also great choices. Some of the Marshall power amps are good too, like the 9100 and the 9200.

I would highly suggest investing in a good EQ or BBe (or both), to get rid of the buzzsawness that the MP-1's tend to have, and to fatten up the bottom end that MP-1 tend to lack as well, and to overall just shape your tone even more.

[blf]

Nice --- thanks guys ---- I was leaning PA, but heard Paul used his ADA with Ampeg heads etc, so wondered what was a good way to go. Im having the MP-1 modded at Voodoo amps right now, so I think that should address some of the brittle/lack of bottom sound from it.

Also, Im not going to be able to crank it overly loud all the time for recording so would a 20/20 be a better choice? Ive heard the EL-84's will lack the bottom end?

[blf]

see above

[corey j grieve]

Originally Posted by blf

Nice --- thanks guys ---- I was leaning PA, but heard Paul used his ADA with Ampeg heads etc, so wondered what was a good way to go. Im having the MP-1 modded at Voodoo amps right now, so I think that should address some of the brittle/lack of bottom sound from it.

Also, Im not going to be able to crank it overly loud all the time for recording so would a 20/20 be a better choice? Ive heard the EL-84's will lack the bottom end?

Dont worry too much about the volume side of things as it is the pre amp that provides 95% of the gain and it will be cooking at all volume levels.Indeed when fully cranked you will get some power tube gain but its more (to my ears) an organic thump. You won't kill your tone at lower levels though. Paul used his with many amps over the years and always sounded great so don't read too much into it. Again if you use a head make sure it has an effect loop and only plug into the loop return jack,this will bypass the head's pre-amp section and only use the head's power amp section. You definately don't want to plug into the front input because as you can imagine a pre-amp into a pre-amp will sound like **** and destroy the tone of your ADA. GO FOR AN AMP WITH 6L6's or KT88's! They have a beautiful warmth,size and grain to the tone,very organic,hard to explain. Also ADA's have plenty of bottom end,it's all in the way you set it up. Use the bass settings to bump up your volume with the master gain,when you feel you have the warmth and size of tone you like then add your presence etc,mostly with your amp if possible. Finally run a noise gate like a Decimator before everything(guitar>Decimator>pre-amp>power amp),it takes all the crap being picked up by the guitar and lead(they act like an aerial and pickup noise) and removes it allowing the ADA (or any other amp) to give you a pure transparent tone. Visit adadepot.com for ADA related info and links.

[GPDSales]

I use my ADA MP-1 this way:
From my guitar I plug into the ADA, which then goes to my Boss GT-8 pedalboard (this controls the ADA via MIDI as well).
Then I run a stereo out of the GT-8 to a BBE 462, then out to my Peavey Classic 60/60.
That goes out stereo to 2 4X12 cabs w/ celestions.
I love this setup, the 6L6's just give more ooomph to your sound.

[finstah]

I ran mine (a 3TM Ultra+ modded MP-1) for years with Digitech IPS-33B and G-Force. Now run it with an Axe FX Ultra and a 2/50/2 with KT-77's. SUHWEET!

A lot of guys over at ADADepot started out with a Quadraverb and Peavey 60/60 and got great tones.

[bammbamm]

I used to run the MP1 into my Microtube 200 for a LONG time.
I got a deal on a triaxis rig so I sold the MP1. Before shipping the MP-1 to make sure it was tip-top, I plugged it into my 2/95 mesa power amp. I seriously considered sending the guy his money back. As much as I liked the MP-1 before, the 2/95 brought it to life!
A good power amp makes this preamp a beast, I can only imagine how good the #tM or Voodoo mod would sound through a nice amp.

[blf]

Thnaks for the added info and opinions...... How about the Randall RT2/50? or the VHT 2:50? I noticed the Randall is "assembled" in Korea.... make any diff?

Can you run them in mono without load to the other speaker output? Would like a power amp that could be used for both stereo & mono if need be......

I think a 2;90 will be TOO much for the home/recording volumes, but ont want top go to a 20/20 now because of the 84's -- want the 34 or 6l6 punch/thump. Also, planning on getting one or two 1936 Marshall cabs to use mono/ stereo

Any thoughts ----and if anyone knows of a trust worthy, reliable owner selling one of these or similar in mint --- let me know. Still have no prob buying new, but you never know!

[Algiman]

The Randall RT2/50 can be run mono or stereo, and no need for a dummy load. It sounds great - the only thing I have against it is that it weighs a hell of a lot!

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by blf

I think a 2;90 will be TOO much for the home/recording volumes, but ont want top go to a 20/20 now because of the 84's -- want the 34 or 6l6 punch/thump. Also, planning on getting one or two 1936 Marshall cabs to use mono/ stereo

you can run the 2:90 in half power mode, and theres also a switch in the back that brings it down even more, I run mine in an apartment, and it isn't to loud.

[rgr]

The old MosValve MV-962s are great power amps for what you are looking for, but they aren't tube, still sound great though and are easier to run at lower volumes.